Combined meter setting and support



May 2o, 1924. 1-,495.o11

E. H. FQRD COMBINED METER SETT ING AND SUPPORT Filed June 30. )922 ATTQ/PNEX reame any 2c, naar.

,Y entree stra ras rarest carica.

EDWIN H. FORD, OF WABASH, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 FORD METER B0X COMPANY, 0F

y 'WABASH, INDIANA, 'Ad CO'RPOMTION.

COMBINED METER SETTING AND SUPPORT.

Application led Ju'ne 30, 1922.- Serial' No. 572,031.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDWIN H. FORD, a citizen of theUnited States, residin at Vabash, in the county of Wabash and tate of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Vinl Combined Meter Settings and Supports, of which the following is-a specification.

This invention relatesto a meter setting comprising meter coupling devices and their support', to resist leakage and to permit the introduction and removal of a meter, for measuring the passage of water, gas and like uids, through service pipes.

@ne of the objects of the invention consists in the provision of a meter setting, which comprises couplings and their supports, whereby meters, for measuring the passage of water, gas and like iuids, can be easily removed from the service pipes for inspection, repair and replacement.

Another object of the invention consists in combiningand utilizing a rigid and nonyielding wall of a base of a meter box to mount and rigidly' support the meter coupling devices so as to old them'in determined'relation and against spreading when pressure is applied Afor clamping the meter, pei` se, in operative position within the line of service pipe.

A still further object of the invention consists in the provision of a non-yielding meter box base for the mounting and the rigid supporting of the meterpcoupling devices, whichvclampingly holdthe meter in operative position,` which are simple in construction and eicient in operation.

I accomplish the above objects of the invention, and such othersas may appear trom a perusal of the following description and claims, by vmeans ofthe constructiony illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a rigid and non-yieldable meter box base, showing the meter coupling devices occupying rigid operative positions therein. Fig. 2 is a sfide elevation of the meter coupling evices, with the meter box base shown in section. Fig. 8 is -a fra mentary detail elevation of the meter box ase, onthe plane 3-3 in Fig. 2. y Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged' scale, of one of the meter coupling devices for supporting one sidel of a meter and includes a cut ofi-valve.` lFig.`5 is a other forei ured.

top or plan view of the coupling device shown in. Fig. 4. Fig. 6y is a` longitudinal sectiomof the coupling device for supporting and clamping the other side of the meter in operative position. Fi 7 is a view partly aitly 1n elevation, onv the. 1g.' 6. Fig. 8 Iis a perspecin section and plane 7-7 in tiveview of a number of the parts of the clamping device shown in Figs. 6 and 7.'

The combination shown in the drawings consists, essentially, ef a rigid, or non-yieldable, meter box base, and meter coupling' de vices which are held in determined positions relatively, to one another by said base.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents a base of a meter box, which may be em` ployed alone if the meter is placed in a cellar or similar place, the upper sections 11 being conjoined 'when themeter is placed into the ground, to exclude sand, avel, earth or substances. ase 10` is gen.. erally rovided with a bottom for the purpose o excluding foreign matter. The wall of base 10 is provided withthe opposite recesses 10 and 10b to receive and hold against spreading the coupling devices/,by whichvproper connections are made with? the spuds 12 and 1310i a conventional'type of meter 14. Basel 10 is also provided with a plurality of lugs I0c which project upwardly from the rim of the wall to form stops for positioning and for preventing lateral displacement of the heretofore mentioned upper sections 11.I l

The coupling devices by which connec. tions are made with spuds 12 and 13.015 the meter 14 comprise at one side a barrel 15 having a longitudinal passageway 16 t afford a assage for the fluid to be mease barrel 15 on its inner end-is enlarged to provide the necessary stock for the formation of a transverse cone-shaped opening 17 into"'which a correspondingly shaped valve 18 is fitted by which the flow of fluids may be discontinued when it is desired to install or remove meter 14. Barrel 15 of the coupling device `has a square external formation-in `cross,section, as at 20, best shownin Fig. 5, and the diameter of the square portion coincides with the widthof recess 10 in basev 10, so Ithat when is held Aagainst movementlof rotation. Longitudinal displacement of the 'barrel l5 from reeessl()a is prevented in one direc- 'barrel 15 rests within saidy recess the barrel tion bythe laterally extending danges 2l (Fig. 5), bearing against the inner surface of base l() and movement of barrel l5 in the opposite direction is prevented by a threaded ring 22 which engages the threads 23 on the external surface oi'barrel l5, and bears against the outer surface oi base l0. By means of this construction ring 22 may be tightly impinged against the external surface of base l0 and prevent accidental displacement oi the coupling device trom recess 'lhe outer end portion oil barrel may be tapered as shown at 2li so that vits reduced end corresponds to the diameter oli the service pipe 25, and to `which it may be connected by a suitable union, vvell knovvn in the art, or by means ci avviped joint shown at 26. 'lhe inner end oi barrel/l5 is recessed to provide a seat tor a gasket 27 against which the end ot the meter spud l2 a nts, and the barrel l5 is further provided on its inner end with a projecting lip 30 to not only enable the end oit adjacent meter spud l2 to be easily alined with barrel l5, but to support the Jmeter it and thus relieve gasket 27 from lateral stress.,

The coupling device lorl connecting the meter spud l3 comprises a barrel 35 vvhich is tapered at its outer end, similarly to the barrel l5, so that it can likewise be connected to the service pipe 25.. The external surface oli barrel 35 is made square at one point, as at 36, (Fig, 3l, and the diameter ot this squared portion coincides to the vvidtli oli recess lOl* in base l0, so as to hold barrel 35 against movement oit rotation. Barrel V35, similar to barrel l5, is held against longitudinal movement in one direc-1 tion by means ci the laterally projecting flanges 37 (Fig. 8), bearing against the enternal suriace oi base l0., and in the other direction by means et a collar 33 which is threaded `upon the inner end oi barrel 35, and bears against the internal surface ot base l0. Barrel 35 is provided with a longitudinal passagevvay d@ .for the passage et the lluid, and beginning at the inner end and extending into the barrel 35 passageway el@ is enlarged to provide an annular shoul` der di to term a set fora gasket 42, vSee Fig. ti. A part oi the enlarged portion oil passageway lo is made square, as at d3, which square opening is. adapted to receive av correspondingly shaped square end 4rd o a sleeve l5, so that the sleeve is held against movement ot rotation Within barrel 35. The thickness oi square head 4rd is somewhat less ,than the depth ot the square opening d3,

so that sleeve l5 has a limited amount oil longitudinal movement independently of barrel 35, the object ot which will be hereinatter more particularly described, but the accidental displacement oi sleeve d5 trom barrel 35 is prevented by means ol the collar 'l 33. See Figs.. 6 and 'Z'. lllhen sleeve d5 ocnennen cupies operative position one yend is im` vpressed against gasket ll2 to prevent leakage y between the parts at this point. Sleeve a5 is also provided With internal threads 46 which engage corresponding threads on the external surface of a revoluble cylinder 47 projected into passageway 40, ot barrel 35, and the inner exposed end of cylinder 47 may be provided with a square head to which aA Wrench may be applied, or a handvvheel i8 as shown, through.which movement oi' rotation may be imparted for cX- `tending and retracting the cylinder and thereby lrespectively clamp or release meter lt trom operative position in service line 25. The inner end of barrel 35 is also provided vvith a recess to form a seat for a gasket t9 Y vvhich is impressed against the adjacent meter-Spud 13 when the barrel 35 is extend ed. 'lt vvill readily be observed that. when cylinder l? is extended so as to impress gas* ket 4:9 against meter spud 13, the resistance set up in opposing this driving action of the cylinder i7 moves sleeve Ll5 longitudinally and independently of barrel 35, which results in more tightly impinging the end of sleeve d5 against gasket 42, thereby more enectually preventing leakage between the metal parts at the lseat of the gasket.

lll ith the preceding disclosure oil my invention as a guide it will be easy for those skilled in this art to` design other forms oi coupling devices lor meter setting purposes-to meet particular requirements oi use-Which vvill present all oi the functional and result attaining characteristics and advantages oi my meter setting device;

Having' thus fully described my said in' vention, what l desire to secure by Letters Patent, isx l, ln a meter setting, the combination, with a rigid base having a plurality of recesses therein, ol a plurality of meter coupling devices arranged atfdiderent points on said hase and fitted within said recesses, one of said devices being extensible tor increasing and decreasing the distance betvveen the meter-coupling ends ofl thede1 vices..

2o ln a` meter settin, the combination, vvith a rigid upwardly anged non-yielding support, oi a plurality ont meter coupling devices removably mounted to extend through therigid support, one ci said devices being extensible tor increasing and decreasing the distance between the metercou vling ends oi said devices and means on sai coupling devices cooperating with the danged portions ci the support to prevent longitudinal and rotative movement of the coupling devices relative to the support.

3. ln a meter setting, the combination, with a rigidr support having ilanged portions provided vvithta plurality oi recesses, ot a plurality ol meter coupling devices lll) removably mounted in the recessed portions of said`Y rigid support, means cooperating with the `recesses for securing each of said devices against rotative displacement, a shut oli' valve carried by one of said -devices, the other being extensible for increasing and decreasing the distance between meter-coupling ends of the devices.

it. In a meter setting, the combination, with a rigid support having a plurality of recesses formed with straight sides, of meter' coupling devices operatively arranged in contacting with ,the straight sides of the recesses' for preventing movement of rotation of said devices within the recesses, means engaging the outer walls of the flanged portion of the support to-.prevent accidental ,displacement of the devices from the recesses, one of said devices being extensible for increasing and decreasing the distance between the meter-coupling ends of the devices.

6. In a meter setting, the combination, with a non-yieldable support, of a pair of independently formed meter ,coupling devices held a fixed distance apart by said support, one of said coupling devices comprising a barrel lprovided withv an internal passageway, the other couplingl device comprising a barrel having an internal passagelway, an internal shoulder formed inthe passageway of the last barrel,` a sleeve arranged in the passageway of the last barrel, means to prevent accidental displacement of the sleeve from its associatedpassageway, and a revoluble externally threaded cylinder-extending into the hollow portion of the sleeve, whereby the resistance met in extending` the cylinder el'ectually impinges the end ofthe latter against the internal'shoulder.

7. In a meter setting, the combination, with a rigid meter box base surrounding the lower end of the meter, 'of a pair of independently, formed meter coupling devices supported a fixed distance apart by the base,

one of said coupling devices intersecting the base and being extensible for increasing andv decreasing the distance between the metercoupling ends ofthe devices.' A

8. Ina meter setting, the combination, with a rigid meter box base, of a pair of independently formed meter coupling devices held a fixed distance apart by the base, one of said coupling devices comprising a barrel having an mternal passageway, an internal shoulder formed in the internal passageway, an independent sleeve arranged within in the. passageway, means to hold the sleeve against movement of rotation, and a revoluble externally threaded cylinder extending into the hollow portion and engaging internal threads in the sleeve, whereby the resistance met in extending the cylinder efectually impinges the end of the sleeve against the internal shoulder.

9. In a meter setting, the combination, with airigid meter box base, of a pair of independently formed meter couplingdevices held a -xed distance apart by the base, one of sald coupling devices comprising a barrel having an internal passageway, the other= coupling devi comprising a barrel having an internal passageway, an internal shoulder formed Ain the passageway of the last barrel, an independent sleeve arranged within the passageway of the last barrel, means to hold the sleeve against movement of rotation, means to prevent accidental displacement of the sleeve from its associated passageway, and a revoluble externally thread- N ed cylinder extending into the ho'llowportion and engaging internal threads in the sleeve, whereby the resistance met in extending theV cylinder eectually impinges the end of the sleeve against the internal shoulder.

10. In a meter setting, the combination, 7

with a non-'yieldable meter box base, of a meter coupling device supported by said base which comprises a barrel having an internal passageway, a shoulder formed in thepassageway of the barrel, a non-rotative longitudinally movable sleeve having internal threads arranged in the hollow portion of thel barrel, and a revoluble cylinder having external threads to engage the' internall threads in the sleeve. i

11. In a meter setting, the combination, with a rigid non-yieldable meter box base, of a meter coupling device supported by the base which comprises a barrel having an" internal passageway, a shoulder formed in the passageway of the barrel, a non-rotative longitudinally movable sleeve provided with internal threads arranged in the hollow portion of the barrel, means I.to -prevent accidental displacement of the sleeve from the barrel, and a revoluble cylinder having external threads to engage thev internalfthreads in the sleeve. I

12. Inl a meter setting, the combination, with a rigid meterfbox base, of a meter coupling device rigidly supported bn said base which comprises a barrel having an internal` sleeve provided with internal threads arranged in the hollow portion of the barrel, means to prevent accidental ,displacement of the sleeve from the barrel, and a revoluble cylinder having external threads to engage the internal threads in the sleeve.

13. ln a meter setting, the combination, with a rigid meter box hase, of a meter coupling device rigidl supported loy said loase which comprises a arrel having an internal passageway, of which a part is square in cross section, a shoulder Jiornfied in the passageway, a sleeve having a square end to rest in the square portion of the passageway and having longitudinal movement independently of the barrel, means to prevent accidental displacement of the sleeve from the barrel, and arrevoluble cylinder threaded into the threaded opening in the sleeve. y

M. ln a meter setting, the combination, with 'arigid meter hoi; hase having a recess, of

Moenia ameter coupling device comprising a barrel with external vertical side walls to it said recess, and having an internal passageway ofvvhich a part is square in cross section, means to prevent vertical and longitudinal displacement of the barrel from the recess, a shoulder formed in hollow portion of the barrel, a sleeve having a square end to rest in the square portion of the internal passageway and having longitudinal movement independently of the barrel, means to prevent accidental displacement of the sleeve fromlhe barrel, and a revolulole cylinder threaded into the threaded opening in the sleeve.

ln witness hand and seal at llahash, lndiana, this 19th day ol June, A.. D., one thousand nine hundred and twenty-two.

nnvvin n. rotin. it. @.1

whereof, l have hereunto set my 

